Lakshmipur PDB official suspended over viral video on bribery

The Power Development Board (PDB) has suspended one of its engineers after a video went viral, which shows him talking about collecting bribes for project-related works.

Md Nurul Amin, executive engineer for sales and distribution at PDB’s Lakshmipur office, has been suspended after over the viral video, PDB said in an official order.

Md Kausar Ahmed Opu, assistant director at the probe and disciplinary wing of PDB, signed the order.

Earlier on Sunday night, the controversial video went viral on social media.

In the nearly nine-minute video, Nurul Amin tells an unidentified person that the AC “sir” has agreed for “some reason” to settle with something, which he did not specify.

However, he will not move below Tk2 crore under “any circumstances,” he tells the unidentified person. He will even talk with the “chairman,” if he has to, Nurul Amin says. It is not clear if he was referring to PDB Chairman Engineer Md Rezaul Karim.

Rezaul Karim later told reporters that Nurul Amin has already been suspended, and a departmental probe has been ordered over the matter.

Nurul Amin went to the office at dawn on Monday, but left shortly afterwards to go back to his government allotted residence. In the evening, he also left his residence.

There has been no clear explanation over his unusual absence from office throughout Monday, and repeated attempts by different media outlets to seek his comments on the matter over the phone were unsuccessful.

Multiple project contractors, preferring anonymity, have alleged that Nurul Amin used to take hefty bribes for approving government bills and disbursing state funds for projects. If anyone wished to pay less or avoid paying bribes at all, the person would be made to languish for an indefinite period and the papers would never get signed, contractors alleged.

Electricity users in the area also have alleged that Nurul Amin is involved in widespread corruption over projects relating to metre installations, and power sector reforms.